Whitecaps FC Residency pair called up to Canada's U-17 national team

Canadian Soccer Association announced today that Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency midfielders Yassin Essa and Matteo Pasquotti have been called up to Canada's U-17 national team for a 10-day camp in Morelia, Mexico.

Both players join head coach Sean Fleming's 24-player squad for the camp, which includes two friendly matches versus Mexico's U-17 national side next Wednesday and Sunday, April 24. As a result, Essa and Pasquotti will miss out on the Residency team's trip to Dallas Cup XXXII this coming week.

This is Canada's first camp since earning their qualification for this year's FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico after finishing as runners-up at the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It will be Canada's first appearance at a U-17 World Cup since 1995.

At this year's CONCACAF U-17 Championship, Fleming's squad included five members of Whitecaps FC Residency. Pasquotti, Bryce Alderson, Wesley Cain, Adam Polakiewicz, and Daniel Stanese were all part of the 20-player squad that was in Jamaica this past February.